Ratiott



0. W. BECK.- STEERING WHEEL AND METHOD CF FORMING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I914.

1,395,893 Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

' WITNESSES. l/VVENTUR W 0%; I mar/e8 WBec/i M Br Arm/um C. W. BECK.

STEERING WHEEL AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME. APPLICATIQN FILED MAY 20. 1914.

-- Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SH:EETSSHEET a.

Ft a 6 WITA/E88E8: l/VVE/VTOI? Q 4 v v .8 Czar/es l/ZZBGCX I U BY Arron/Em described in connection with the annulus i. The metallic rim section however, extends in a continuous piece through the annulus p.

While various forms of covering may be applied to the metallic ,rlm section,without departing from my invention, I--find it ironed while in but when a particularly smooth, hard sur-- .face is desired, the fibrous covering maybe engagement with the metal lic r1m section.

During the setting or hardening of the vulcanized fiber there is a tendency for it to contract. I therefore find it desirable'to form the covering of the rim of a plurality of segments, two being illustrated in the structure shown in the drawings. This will permit the contraction of the tubular casin'g without cracking or rupturing the same,

While the metal bands for securing the spider arms to the rimform suitable meansfor taking care of any inequalities at the adjacent ends of the fibrous tube, due to contraction. Another desirable methodof covering the metallic rim section is to spirally wrap the latter with a suitable cove'ring material.

With my improved construction of spider, thespider arms are formed of sheet metal st'ampingshaving their outer ends-as hereia'lb'efore described-attached to the rim and having their inner ends attached to the ,spider center P. The latter is formed of two: superimposed metal stampings Q. R having cylindrical hubs S suitably secured tg a bearing T. that receives the stem'of steering post. These sheet metal stamplngs have radially-extending arms U V between which'is arranged the inner end W of the spider arm, the parts U V and W being secured together by a rivet X. One of the stampings as V has the sides provided with flanges Y that are turned over the edges of the otherstamping. As shown in Fig. 6, the sides of the member T are provided with a groove Z forming a rectangular bearing portion A which is so arranged that the corners C thereof Wlll engage the /-shaped recess D in the end ofthe spider arm, thereby anchoring the latter against lateral play.

.As all the parts of the spider except the bearing for engaging the stem of the steer-- ing post, are formed of sheet metal stampings which are so constructed as to be readily assembled, the spider may be very cheaply manufactured-and also is comparatively light. If desired, the parts ofthe spider may be suitably grooved to add stiffness andstrength thereto.

' What I claim as my invention is 1. A steering Wheel rim, comprising a rim proper having a joint, a fastening member at the joint and an outer coveringof heat-insulating material substantially flush with the fastening member.

2. A steering wheel rim, comprising a rim proper, composed of a plurality of segments, an outer tubular covering of heat- I insulating material formed of.,segments' telescopically engaged with the segments of the rim proper, and means for rigidly connecting together the segments of the rim proper. I a

3. In a steering wheel, a hollow metal rim, a spider having arms extending withand means for connecting the spider arms, rim and bands together.

4i. Ina steering wheel, a hollow metal in said rim, metal bands encircling the rim,

rim, a covering for said .rim of heat-insulating material formed in a plurality of segments, a spider, and a bandencirchng said rim and connected to one of the armsof the spider, said band forming a joint between adjacent ends of two of said segments.

5'. In a steering wheel, a spider composed 6. In a steering wheel, a rim divided.

cross-wise into a plurality of segments, members embracing the meeting ends of adj acent.

segments for securing said ends together, and a spider having arms, the outer ends of which are attached to said members.

7. In a steering wheel, a rim divided cross-wise into a plurality of segments, means for reinforcing the ri at the meeting ends of adjacentsegments, a spider having a plurality of arms the outer ends of which ongage the rim at the meeting ends of adjacent segments, and securing means extending through the arms, the rim and the reinforcing means.

8. A steering wheel, comprising a "rim, spokes and hub, the inner ends of the spokes being inserted in sockets formed in the hub,

and a pair of sheet metal plates rigidly connee-ting. the hub and spokes, said plates relessees spectively having central apertures engaging the hub ends, and each having radially projecting clamping portions, forming pairs with the corresponding portions of the other plate to engage the inner ends of the spokes, and means rigidly connecting the coacting pairsof clamping portions with the spokes.

9. A steering wheel, comprising a rim, spokes and hub, and a pair of sheet metal members arranged one at each side of the hub, forming in conjunction two-part sleeves receiving the inner ends of the spokes,

being formed in the hub receiving the inner ends of the spokes, said plate having a cen tral aperture engaging the hub end, said end being formed with a shoulder as an abutment for the edge of saidplate peripheral to the central aperture of said plate.

12. The combination with a 1111b piece provided with a circumferential groove having its bottom shaped to constitute a plurality of spaced abutments, a shoulder being formed atone end-of said hub piece, a plurality of spokes having their inner ends engaging with and of complementary contour to the abutment portions of said groove, a

pair of sheet metal members keyed on said hub, one at each side of the spokes and coacting to engage the inner ends of the spokes, one of said members being held in place through engagement ,With said shoulder,

ends and the faces-against which they abut fastening members passing through the .reg'istering portions of said spoke and sheet metal members and. a rim to which the outer extremities of the spokes are attached.

13. In a steering wheel, a spider comprising an apertured member for engaging the stem of the steering post, said member having an exterior polygonal bearing portion, spider arms having recessed inner ends engaging apices of said polygonal portion, and a palr of membersmounted upon the respective end portions of said apertured memher and rigidly engaging the spider arms respectively at each side of said arms.

14-. In a steering Wheel, a spider comprising a member for engaging the stem of the steering post, spider arms having their inner ends abutting against said member, said being shaped to prohibit relative rotation, and a pair of sheet metal plates mounted upon the respective end portions of said member and rigidly engagingthe spider arms respectively at each side of said arms.

15. In a steering wheel, a rim having meeting ends, a metal band surrounding said meeting ends, and retaining the same in a fixed relation, and a spider having arms secured to the rim, the outer endof one of said arms being attached to the extremities.

of said band.

16. In a steering wheel, a' rim having meeting ends, a metal band surrounding said meeting ends, a spider having arms secured to the rim, the outer end of one of said arms being extended into the rim at the juncture of said ends, fastening members engaging the metal band with said meeting ends of the rim and also engaging said arm, and means engaging the extremities of said metal band with said arm.

17. In a steering Wheel, a spider comprising an apertured member for engaging the stem of the'steering post, said member hav-' ing an exterior polygonal bearing portion, spider arms having recessed inner ends engaging apices of said polygonal portion, and a member mounted upon an end portion of said apertured member and rigidly engaging, the spider arms.

18. In a steering Wheel, a spider comprising a member for engaging the stem of the steering post, spider arms having their inner ends abutting against said member, said ends and faces against which they abut be ing shaped to prohibit relative rotation, and a sheet-metal plate mounted upon an end ing the spider arms.

19. In a. steering wheel, a spider composed of a member engaging the side of the steering post, said member being grooved to form a polygonal bearing portion, spider arms having recessed inner'ends engaging corners on the polygonal bearing portion, and a metal plate arranged at one side of said spider arms mounted upon an end portion of said member and having complementary arms secured to thespider arms.

20. A built-up steering wheel comprising a rim portion, a spider portion, said spider portion comprising a plurality of separate sheet metal spider armsextending from the rim portion to the central part of the Wheel only and superimposed, sheet metal stampings arranged on opposite sides of the inner ends of said arms, one of said stampings having a portion at the hub extending transversely to the main body portion of the stamping-and each of said arms being directly secured to at least one of said stampings.

21. A built-up steering wheel comprising a rim portion, a unitary ri id central fitting and a spider portion, said spider portion oomprisin a plurality of independently formed spider arms extending only from the 10c portion of said member and rigidly engagrim portion to the central fitting and each secured thereto in permanently 'fixed relation to the other arms, said central fitting having a main body portion directly secured to the inner ends of said arms and,

being formed independent of the remaining arms, the outer end portions of said spider arms being secured in fixed relation with the rim portion, and the inner ends of said arms being secured in permanently fixed relation to the other arms;

23. A built-up steering wheel comprising a rim portion, a hub portion and a spider portion, said spider'portion comprising a plurality of independently formed spider arms extending from the rim portion to the hub portion only, the outer ends of said arms being secured in fixed relation with the rim portion and the inner ends of the arms being secured in permanently fixed relation with the hub portion.

24. A built-up steering wheel comprising a rim portion, a hub portion made up as parts rigidly secured together in permanently fixed re ationship, and a spider portion, said spider portion comprising a plurality v0f independently formed spider arms extending being secured in fixed relation with the rim portion, and the inner end portions of the arms being secured in fixed relation with the hub portion.

25. A built-up steering wheel includin a rim portion and a, spider portion, said spi or portion comprising a plurality of independ from the 'rim portiontto the hub portion" only, the-outerlend portions of said arms ently formed spider arms, each of said arms I consisting of a sheet metal stamping i'nde pendent of the remaining arms, the outer end portions of the spider arms being secured in fixed relation With the rim portions and the inner ends of said arms being secured in permanently fixed relation to the other arms.

in presence of a Witness CHAS. W. BECK.

Witness:

. BELKNAP.

In testimonywhereoflaifix my signature 

